New Pittsburgh-Area Resident Becomes New Big PA Lottery Winner

PITTSBURGH, PA — An active-duty service member from the Pittsburgh area won $1.3 million playing an online Pennsylvania Lottery game.

A check presentation was held Tuesday in Pittsburgh for Christopher Lehman of Beaver County, who has been in the Army for 25 years. He won the lottery's Jackpot Spectacular online game on May 30.

“My wife always says I have good luck,” Lehman said. “I looked at the progressive prize amount for Jackpot Spectacular and thought, ‘That one’s about to pop soon.’ I budgeted $100 to play that day. I figured, if I lose, I lose.”

A progressive Lottery prize is one in which the jackpot keeps growing until the prize is won.

What happened next surprised Lehman.

“The bonus popped up and I couldn’t believe it,” he said. “I just stared at it for a second. My wife didn’t believe it either. We called the lottery together, and I put the phone on speaker so we could both hear it was real.”

Lehman won on the same day he signed up for a Pennsylvania Lottery online account.

“My wife and I just moved here from New Hampshire about a month ago,” he said. “I’m active duty in the Army for the past 25 years. I enjoyed playing lottery games online in New Hampshire and now online in Pennsylvania.”

“Congratulations to Christopher on winning this exciting prize, and we thank him for his service,” said Pennsylvania Lottery Execuvtie Drew Svitko. “We’re always happy to see one of our players win a prize that will make a big difference in their lives.”

Lehman and his wife, Judith, said they plan to use their prize money to pay off their mortgage and Judith’s car loan.

“We will probably invest the rest,” he added.

Lehman also shared that his youngest daughter is graduating from Army basic training, also known as Basic Combat Training, on June 12. He said he is very proud and excited to travel to celebrate her accomplishment.